INITIATE Strengthens Research & Innovation Collaboration at the 1st INITIATE R&I and Policy Lab in Skopje

The first R&I and Policy Lab in Skopje, North Macedonia, took place on February 27, 2025, hosted by INOFEEIT, FEEIT, and UKIM. The hybrid event brought together 55 participants from government, civil society, industry, and academia to foster collaboration on energy and sustainability.

Key discussions included the Smart Energy Systems Group (SESG), the integration of Digital Twins and Living Labs, and interactive sessions focused on proposal co-creation for Horizon Europe and EUKI calls. ESEIA Project Manager Sila Celebi shared three Horizon Europe funding opportunities, after which participants were expected to indicate their roles in the calls and outline their potential contributions. This information would then support the collaborative development of research proposals. Participants also worked on research ideas for decarbonization and digitalization in the energy sector.

The event resulted in three Miro Boards capturing ideas, expertise and collaboration opportunities—serving as a foundation for future research and innovation efforts.

This R&I Lab was the first session facilitated by UKIM. As part of the INITIATE project, a total of nine R&I Labs will be conducted, hosted by UKIM, UNI Zagreb, and ISCTE. These labs are designed to establish a structured feedback mechanism for the pilot initiatives.

For more details about INITIATE and ESEIA’s role in supporting R&I collaborations, visit: https://eseia.eu/ongoing-projects/initiate/

Project Coordinator: Marko Mimica, UNIZAG FSB, HR
ESEIA Project Manager: Sila Celebi, AT